When people first began training, especially resistance training, when they start to see results; the natural desire is to see more! Therefore, a lot of people fall into the trap where they begin to think that doing more exercise will logically get more results.

This scenario described above is very common, and very natural. However it is a fallacy. Unfortunately, it works the reverse way. Doing too much exercise can be harmful, and will impede progress. As hard as this may be to believe; it is very true!

The physiology behind it is fairly simple. As we are working out, especially during resistance training; we are in the anabolic mode. While we exercise our bodies are burning glycogen, or blood sugar for energy. As we keep exercising, our stores of glycogen diminish. If we keep exercising for a prolonged period of time, blood sugar drops to very low levels. Although this may be good when doing cardio, it has the reverse effect during resistance training.

Low blood sugar levels will cause our body to give off cortisol hormones such as adrenaline, and nor epinephrine. The effects of these hormones, is to put our body in a catabolic state.

The idea of resistance training is to build additional lean tissue. This can only be achieved when we are in an anabolic state. Therefore, working out for a period of time, which is too long, ends up burning muscle tissue instead of building it.

Young kids tend to be especially guilty of doing this. They get into the “more is better” syndrome very quickly. However, common sense would tell us that if more really was better; everybody could build 20 inch biceps by repeatedly curling weights for hours.

In the world the fitness, the scenario described above is officially known as over training. The smartest and best bodybuilders understand that the quickest way to results is to perform a fast and intense workout. The results come from the intensity and not the duration.

The length of time of an ideal workout will vary from individual to individual, and should be determined your experience. AAS users have a slight advantage in that the extra hormones we inject keep us anabolic for a bit longer.

The proper length of your workout is determined by your health, age, physical condition, and the actual workout itself. The idea is to stay anabolic for as long as possible. When the catabolic feelings set in it's time to pack up and get some carbs.

There is approximately a 30 minute window to get carbs ingested after a workout to avoid catabolism and muscle burning.

One of the reasons that athletes today are bigger and stronger and faster, is that they have gotten away from the more is better philosophy. Years ago, people just spent too much time in the gym. As simple as all this seems, just a few years ago, it was not understood.

Athletes would do two full body workouts a day of two hours each. Today, those in the know, work each body part once a week. Science has shown us that it takes a muscle seven days to fully recover. Gear users have the advantage of working a muscle part several times a week as recovery is faster.

Although much of this seems very simple, many people are totally unaware. Over training leads to failure and frustration, and many people are literally working their way out of the gym, and back into a sedentary lifestyle. If they were aware of the fact that they were failing because they were doing too much; they would be shocked.

As far as intensity goes, common sense is in order. Obviously, we are not talking about intensity to the point of insanity. Use common sense and stay anabolic!